Thirty-seven students from North Platte High school competed in the 2014 SkillsUSA Nebraska State Leadership and Skills Conference April 16-18 in Omaha.

Nearly 100 skills competitions were held April 17 at the downtown CenturyLink Center, Metropolitan Community College and Double Tree by Hilton.

The following North Platte students, including welders and the opening and closing team, won an award:

Westley Hoatson, first place, automotive service technology

Philip Hammer, first, diesel equipment technology

Ian Bridge, first, opening and closing ceremonies

Katei Hunt, first, opening and closing ceremonies

Nadezdha Hughes, first, opening and closing ceremonies

Sarah Meyer, first, opening and closing ceremonies

Sydney McGahan, first, opening and closing ceremonies

Taylor Kramer, first, opening and closing ceremonies

Tanner Malmkar, first, opening and closing ceremonies

Benjamin Jolliffe, first, opening and closing ceremonies

Welders

Colton Craig, first, welding fabrication

Joe Pascoe, first, welding fabrication

Colton Thompson, first, welding fabrication

Gilbert Seck, second, metric 500, senior division

Dillion Schultz, second, welding overall

Blake Tucker, third, welding overall

Dillion Schultz, third, state only- gas tungsten arc welding

Dylan Siemers, first, state only- oxygen and acetylene welding

Terrance Nelson, third, state only- oxygen and acetylene welding

Blake Tucker, third, state only- shielded metal arc welding

By virtue of their first place wins, Hoatson, Hammer, Bridge, Hunt, Hughes, Meyer, McGahan, Kramer, Malmkar and Jolliffe will compete in opening and closing ceremonies at the national competition in Kansas City on June 23–27, continuing a long-standing North Platte tradition.

Craig, Pascoe and Thompson will compete in welding at the national competition in Kansas City, another standing achievement for North Platte students.

The annual SkillsUSA state championships involved more than 1,200 students from 72 Nebraska chapters. During the competition, students worked against the clock and each other, proving expertise in occupations such as automotive servicing, construction, welding, electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting and culinary arts.